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After a successful trip to the dentist, one of Assiniboine Park Zoo’s newest polar bears has some shiny teeth to match her new home.

Aurora, an 11-month-old polar bear cub, had been discovered in Churchill in October, thin and abandoned by her mother. During a routine exam, it was discovered she had some broken teeth, which led to her transportation to Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo.

“In the wild, that sort of thing absolutely happens” said Dr. Chris Enright, the zoo’s head of veterinary services, on the tooth decay. “But in captivity we want to address it, we want her as comfortable and healthy as she can be.”

The dental surgery was headed by veterinary dentist Dr. Colleen O’Morrow. With the polar bear sedated, the team successfully removed two baby teeth and one adult tooth that was broken and infected.

They also took the opportunity to vaccinate Aurora for rabies and to measure various parts of the sedated polar bear.

Her recovery will take place at the newly constructed International Polar Bear Conservation Centre and Enright hopes to soon introduce Aurora to the zoo’s latest polar cub addition — 11-month-old polar cub Kaska, who arrived on Nov. 19.

“She’ll be back at the centre and within three days she’ll be a bouncy, happy Aurora, eating well and in the very near future she can meet her new companion Kaska,” Enright said, noting Aurora has gained seven kilograms since arriving at the zoo. “Kaska being her buddy will give her a little bit of companionship and an outlet for all of her energy.”

The Conservation Centre is part of the Journey to Churchill polar bear exhibit currently under construction at the Zoo as part of the Zoo’s $200-million redevelopment plan. It’s expected to open next year.

As Advertised in the Winnipeg SUN

Polar bear has dental surgery

After a successful trip to the dentist, one of Assiniboine Park Zoo’s newest polar bears has some shiny teeth to match her new home.

Aurora, an 11-month-old polar bear cub, had been discovered in Churchill in October, thin and abandoned by her mother. During a routine exam, it was discovered she had some broken teeth, which led to her transportation to Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo.

“In the wild, that sort of thing absolutely happens” said Dr. Chris Enright, the zoo’s head of veterinary services, on the tooth decay. “But in captivity we want to address it, we want her as comfortable and healthy as she can be.”

The dental surgery was headed by veterinary dentist Dr. Colleen O’Morrow. With the polar bear sedated, the team successfully removed two baby teeth and one adult tooth that was broken and infected.

They also took the opportunity to vaccinate Aurora for rabies and to measure various parts of the sedated polar bear.